Andiroba (Carapa guianensis)

Family: Meliaceae | Edibility: Edible (1/5)

Andiroba, Carapa guianensis, is deciduous of up to 55 m tall with a straight, cylindrical, buttressed bole of up to 90 cm in diameter. It is found in the Amazon, Central America, and the Carribean. The bark is used in the treatment of malaria, stomach pain, diarrhoea, dysentery, rheumatism, and various skin conditions. The leaves are boiled in water and used to treat wounds and ulcers.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Oil. See medical uses below. The oil should not be consumed because it is poisonous in quantity. The seed contains up to 70% oil. — See medical uses below.; The oil should not be consumed because it is poisonous in quantity.; The seed contains up to 70% oil.

Habitat & North American Range

A canopy or subcanopy layer element of lowland rainforest, sometimes in pure stands, preferring marsh edge, swamp forests, alluvial riverbanks and periodically flooded plains. (Zone 10)